Description
Electrons in many space plasma environments are mostly collisionless and so are heated by interactions with plasma waves. These processes are poorly understood in general, and this is partly because the electron kinetics evolves on timescales of milliseconds and measuring a well-resolved velocity distribution (VDF) on this timescale is difficult. Measuring the transfer of energy between electromagnetic or electrostatic plasma waves and the electron VDFs requires the measurement of the electron VDF, electric and magnetic field waveforms at kHz resolution. In the past, this has been done with multi-spacecraft missions with comprehensive high-performance plasma sensors, e.g. Cluster, MMS. The challenge of similar future missions is cost and complexity and so here we propose a design for an electron sensor that can meet cutting-edge science requirements for electron measurements at kHz cadence but fitting into the form factor of a 1U CubeSat. The objective is to develop an ultra-low size, weight and power (SWaP) electron sensor that can be deployed on very small satellites as part of a simple and small payload but that, by focusing on a narrow range of science requirements, can deliver world-leading science results. We demonstrate how this can be achieved with a 1D magnetic selection sensor and propose ideas for future developments of this concept. This sensor is proposed as part of the payload of the DREAM mission.
